Frances Tiafoe defeated Learner Tien 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in Cincinnati, taking the opener and the decider while Tien levelled the match by winning the second. Tiafoe's early break in the first set set the tone, and he delivered the decisive break in the third to close it out.
Tiafoe broke in the opening game of the first set and served out the 6-4. Tien turned the second around with two breaks, the last of them at 6-4, to level. In the third, Tiafoe broke in game 3, was pegged back immediately, then broke again in game 7 and held on to win 6-4.
Tien fired six aces in the final set to Tiafoe's one, but Tiafoe's two breaks in that set and four overall proved decisive. Tiafoe edged the match on total points, 88 to 84.